Paddle-wheel.



No. .m4,47s. 4 Patented my a, |902..V

F. EXLINE. PADDLE WHEEL.

(Appumion mea Jan. 15, A1902.)` (.llo Model.) 2 Sheets-Shen I.V

Patented July 8, v|902. F. EXLINE.

PADDLE WHEEL.

(Appncatinn meals, 15. 1902.)

(llo Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheat -2.

i; Jy@ 1 f1 (fl v .fr A li Z E Z/ 77?/ ff m, f f/ j 0VV J y @/l/ l 22' g ff w @A il Q rim W Q G' Mimik@ g UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK EXLINE, OF GEDDES, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO VERTICAL PROPELLER COMPANY, OF GEDDES,

SOUTH DAKOTA.

PADDLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,478, dated July 8, 1902.

Application filed January 15, 1902. Serial No. 89,865. (N0 mOdel-l To LZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK ExLINE, of Geddes, in the county of Charles Mix and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paddle-Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, ref' a plan view of a paddle-wheel and its actu.

ating devices made in accordance with my invention adapted more especially for sternwheel vessels. Fig. 2 is a side Vview of the wheel. Fig. 3 is a horizontal axial section of the wheel. Fig. fi is a plan view showing two similar wheels embodying my invention applied to a side-Wheel boat. View of a wheel, showing a modified form of that illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 3. l

As shown in said drawings, Figs. l, 2, and 3, A A designate two rotative lateral wheel members, and B an intermediate rotative wheel member arranged eccentrically with respect to the membersA A. Said members A A are mounted on the end portions and the member B is mounted on the middle portion of a bent supporting-bar C, the endsjof which are rigidly attached to the supports or frame members D D and which is so shaped as to form between the wheel members A A two transversely-extending parts c c, connected by an intermediate part or bearing c', which is oifset from theend portions of the bar and on which is mounted the intermediate member B. The lateral wheel members A A are attached to sleeves or hollow drivingshafts E E, which are mounted on the end portionsl of the supporting-bar C, and to which are attached, outside of said wheel members, sprocket-wheels E', which may be employed as one means through which motion may be given to the said wheel members A A. 'The transverse parts c c ot' the supportingbar C Fig. 5 is a side are arranged horizontally, so that the central oifset bearing c is in the same horizontal plane with the end parts of the baron which the exterior wheel members are mounted, said central offset part or bearing c being rigidly held in position by means of the rigid connection between the ends of the bar C and the frame members D D.

F F designate paddleframes, whichare located between the outer parts of the wheel members A A and the intermediate wheel member B and have pivoted connections at their inner and outer margins with said wheel members by means of oppositely directed pivot-rods G G. The pivot-rods G are rigidly secured to the outer margins of the side wheel members A A and project inwardly therefrom, while the pivot-rods G' are rigidly attached to the outer margin of the intermediate wheel member B and project outwardly from the same or toward the members A. Saidpivot-rods are arranged parallel with the shaft and extending along the inner and outer ends of the paddleframes,which latter are ar ranged horizontally or parallel with the parts c c of the bar C and are always held by the pivotrods in a horizontal position. Attached to the paddle-frames F F are paddle-blades H H, which extend downwardly from said frames, each paddleeframe being provided with one or more paddle-blades. The drawings show two blades on each frame; but a greater or less number may be used, as desired. The paddleframes are herein shown as made of a rectangular form and provided with bearings ff for engagement with the pivot-rods G G, the pivot rods being adapted toturn freely in said bearings. 'The `distance between the axes of the two pivot-rods engaging any one of the paddle-frames is equal to the distance be tween the pivotal axes of the wheel members A A and B, and the pivot-rods for each frame are located in a plane parallel with a plane passing through the axes of said wheel mem. bers. It follows from this construction that when both side members A A are revolved the intermediate member B will turn with them and the outer and intermediate members will maintain the same relative positions and all of the blades will remain in planes parallel with each other. The paddle-frames IOO . with each other in any desired or preferred manner. As a further improvement, however, I construct each of said frames of two side bars F F', which are provided with bearing-apertures forming the bearings f, by which they are engaged with the pivot-rods G G. Said side bars are connected with each other by means of the blades II II, which extend between and are rigidly secured to said side bars, and also by oblique braces f'. To hold the plates rigidly in position at right langles to the frame-bars, depending metal plates H II are attached to the bars and extend downwardly from the same toward the lower edges of the blades. The plates are secured to the inner faces of said plates H' H' by rivets or other attaching means at the ends of the blades. The plates H H thus arranged serve to brace or hold the blades rigidly in position, and they also serve to hold or confine the water upon which the blades are acting in a manner to prevent the escape of the water at the side edges of the blades, and thus enable the blades to secure a better hold upon the wat-er in propelling.

- AS before stated, the Wheel is driven by giving rotative motion to both of the side members A A through sprocket-wheels E E on the hollow driving-shafts E E or other suitable driving devices. In order to maintain the said side members always in the same relative position, I prefer to drive the two side members from a common source of power and through a connection operating to give corresponding movement to the said side members. The devices shown for this purpose are adapted for use where sprocketwheels E' E are employed, the same consisting of a driving-shaft I, arranged parallel to the bar C and provided with two sprocketwheels I I' and link belts `I2 I2, trained over .the sprocket-wheels I and the sprocketwheels E. Said drivin g-shaft I may be given motion by any suitable motor-as, for instance, it may have a crank i at its center, by which motion is transmitted thereto from the pitman of a steam-engine or other like motor.

The intermediate wheel member B turns freely on its bearing, and motion is transmitted thereto from the side members A A through the paddle-frames connecting them. This will be made clear from an inspection of Fig. 2, from which it will be seen that when the member A is rotated the paddle-frames atthe top and bottom of the wheel will exert a pull or push upon the intermediate meinber B, so as to give to the two members exact correspondence of movement.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a construction in paddle-wheels adapted for use upon a sidewheel vessel. In this instance each wheel is provided with a single set of paddle-frames and constitutes,in effect,onehalf of the wheel structure shown in Figs 1, 2, and 3. As shown in said Fig. 4, each Wheel consists of two lateral wheel members J and K, arranged eccentrically with respect to each other. The exterior side members J are mounted on the outer end of a supporting-bar L, which is bent or shaped to bring its end portions in offset relation, the transverse partl of the bar which connects the offset end portions thereof being arranged horizontally. The outer end portion of said supporting-bar is rigidly attached to a longitudinal beam M, extending outside of the wheel. The inner end portion of the bar L, which is parallel with its outer portion, extends into the end of a hollow driving-shaft N, through the medium of which both wheels are driven. Said driving-shaft is supported in bearings m on a kbeam or support M', located inside of the inner wheel member K. Said wheel member K is attached rigidly to the driving-shaft N, outside of said bearing m, so that said memberK in this instance constitutes the driving member of the wheel.k O O are the paddleframes, which are located between the two members J and K. The outer-member J is provided at its margin with rigidly-attached pivot-rods P and the inner member K with similar rigidly-attached pivot-rods P', and the paddle-frames are mounted on said pivotrods in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. l, 2, and 3. i The details of construction in the paddle frames and blades shown in said Fig. 4 are also like those shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3 and hereinbefore described. For actuating the wheels illustrated in Fig. 4 a motor may be applied to act upon the driving-shaft N in any suitable manner. Said driving-shaft is herein shown as provided with a crank n, which may be engaged by the connecting-rod or pitman of a steamengine; but the shaft may be given motion by any other suitably-connected motor. In the construction shown in Fig. 4 the paddleframes are arranged horizontally and are always held in horizontal positions during the rotation of the wheel, so that the paddleblades operate in the same Vmanner as set forth in connection with the double form of Wheel shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, which is more especially adapted for use as the paddlewheel of a stern-wheel vessel.

Fig. 5 shows a wheel like that illustrated in Figs l, 2, and 3, except that the parallel end portions of the supporting-bar B and the intermediate odset part of said bar are arranged in a vertical plane, and in place of the paddle-frames paddles or blades Q are directly pivoted to the wheel members A A IOO IIO

and B by engagement with the pivot-rods Gr and G. In this construction the axis of rotation of the intermediate wheel member B, which is mounted on the central offset part of the bar, is vertically beneath that of the side members A, and as a result said intermediate member only enters the water when the paddle-blades are immersed.

It will be manifest that the paddle-blades shown in Fig. 5 serve equally with the paddle-frames shown in the other figures of the drawings as a means for connecting the eccentric wheel members with each other, so that driving power applied to one member, as in Fig. 4, or to the two exterior members, as in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 5, will be transmitted to the other member.

I claim as my inventionl. A wheel comprising two rotative members arranged eccentrically with respect to each other, a stationary supporting-bar having parallel, offset, rigidlyconnected portions on which said rotative members are mounted, means for driving one of said rotative members, pivot-rods rigidly attached to said rotative members, and connections between said pivot-rods, whereby motion given to one member is transmitted to the other.

2. A wheel comprising two rotative members arranged eccentrically with respect to each other, a stationary supporting-bar having rigidly-connected, parallel, offset portions on which the said rotative members are mounted, pivot-rods rigidly secured to the said rotative members, and paddle-frames pivotally engaging and connecting said pivotrods.

3. A wheel comprising two rotative members arranged eccentrically with respect to each other, a rigid, stationary bar having rigidly-connected, parallel, odset portions on which the said rotative members are mounted, pivot-rods on said members, paddle-frames having pivotal engagement with said pivotrods, and paddle-blades attached to said pad- (lle-frames.

4. A wheel comprising two rotative members arranged eccentrically with respect to each other, a stationary supporting-bar having rigidly connected, offset portions on which said rotative members are mounted, and one end of which is rigidly attached to a support, a hollow driving-shaft which engages one of the offset parts of the supporting-bar and to which one of said rotative members is attached, driving means applied to said hollow shaft for turning said member attached thereto, pivot-rods on the wheel members, and means connecting said pivot-rods wherei by motion is transmitted from the driven to i the non-driven member.

5. A wheel comprising two rotative members arranged eccentrically with respect to each other, a stationary supporting-bar having rigidly-connected, parallel offset parts on which said rotative members are mounted, said oifset parts being arranged in the same horizontal plane, means applied to one of said members for driving the same, pivot-rods rigidly attached to said members, horizontallyarranged paddle frames mounted on said pivot rods and connecting the same, and blades rigidly attached to and extending downwardly from said paddle-frames.

6. The combination with eccentric, rotative wheel members, and paddle-frames pivotally connected therewith, and blades attached to said paddle-frames, said frames being provided with vertically-arran ged side plates depending from the frames and attached to the ends of said blades.

7. A wheel comprising two exterior rotative members, an intermediate, eccentric, rotative Inember,a stationary supporting-bar on which said exterior rotative members are mounted, said supporting-bar having a central oset part on which the intermediate member is mounted, said bar being attached at its ends rigidly to stationary supports, pivot-rods on the exterior and intermediate members and connections between said pivot-rods.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of January, A. D. 1902.

FRANK EXLINE.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, WILLIAM L. I-IALL. 

